Palanan – the town that time forgot.

Mention the name Palanan, and even province mates of this remote town finds this municipality a mystery, mainly because of its inaccessibility and many natural wonders, said Governor Ma. Gracia Cielo Padaca, who described the 397 – year old town as “one of Isabela’s best kept secrets.” Though some outsiders tag Palanan (population less than 20,000) as “the town that time fogot,” many of its residents don’t seem to mind.

Nestled in the farthest eastern corner of the province of Isabela, bounded by the Pacific Ocean, the relatively small and unknown coastal town of Palanan provides a number of empty and peaceful “island alternatives” when its neighboring provinces are jam-packed with beach frolickers.

The mainly Catholic community, said to be founded by Frnciscan missionaries in 1609 on the banks of the Pinacanawan River, is bounded by the towns of Divilacan in the north and San Mariano in the south and west, and the vast Pacific Ocean in the east.

Paranan, a mixture of Ibanag, Spanish, Tagalog and the indigenous Agta (or Dumagat) language is the town’s dialect. One can freely interact with the Agtas which makes the trip to this island more interesting. The Agtas are semi-nomadic tribes roaming the Sierra Madre Mountains and leaves along the lean-tos along the river and seacoast.

Palanan was established as a township by the Augustinian friars in 1609 and the parish was named in honor of Saint Mary Magdalene whose feast day falls every 22nd of July. This far flung municipality has been known as the place where General Emilio Aguinaldo, President of the First Philippine Republic, made his “last stand” against US forces in 1901. The geographical location of this town has played its role in our history being the last seat of government of our first president. He sought refuge in what is now called Barangay Marikit, where he met and fell in love with local lass named Isabel Lopez. American forces led by General Frederick Funston finally capture General Aguinaldo on March 23, 1901.

Palanan may have failed to prevent the capture of General Aguinaldo by the US troops in 1901, but this does not mean that the town is devoid of heroes. Former Environment Secretary and Representative Heherson Alvarez, pushed for the establishment in the northern Sierra Madre mountains of a nature park. The park, which later became a component of the World-Bank funded integrated Protected Areas System, was declared the Palanan Wilderness.

Nature conservationist have managed to push Palanan into the limelight, calling it “the home of the guardians of the Sierra Madre” and citing local folks for sacrificing their poor town’s progress and development” in order to save the virgin forests in the northern part of the mountain range. The mountains are “wild and remote, with not a single road crossing the range in its entire length (although most maps do erroneously show several routes).” The terrain is extremely rugged, the mountains steep and densely forested. The highest point within the area is Mount Cresta (eleavation:5486 feet), with at least two more peaks namely Mount Divilacan (4,301 feet) and Mount Palanan (3,977 feet).”

More than 90,000 hectares of Palanan’s total land area of 1,220 square kilometers are timberland, while another 10,339 hectares are used as cropland. It has a built-up area of only 52.05 hectares. In the absence of direct road access from adjacent towns, Palanan can only be reached by a 30-35 minute flight in a six-seater, single engine Cyclone Cessna commuter plane from Cauayan City or a six to seven-hour boat ride from the towns of Dingalan or Baler in Aurora province, in the south, or a three to five day hike from San Mariano town. Except for some tricycles, a few horses and improvised three-wheeled motorized “kuligligs”, the streets of Palanan are empty most of the time.

“Taking the plane in itself is a treat in itself,” Governor Padaca emphasized. “You can see the beauty of the Sierra Madre from the sky, the green treetops look like giant broccolis. Eco tourists will be glad to know that six kinds of forests have been identified in the area, ranging from the lowland evergreen to montane, mangrove beach forest, limestone and forest growing on ultra basic rocks.

Bird studies conducted in the early 90s by an international team of scientists revealed 241 species, along with 78 of the nation’s 169 endemic species, including the mighty Philippine Eagle. It was a similar story with mammals, 14 species of bats were also found to be endemic.

According to Department of Tourism’s Regional director Blessida Diwa, for a long time, tourism has not been given much attention in the province despite its diverse offering to both environmentalist and regular tourists. But the DOT, with the help of the local government of Isabela, is trying to change that now. Palanan’s rich and colorful historical background, natural harbors, abundant corrals, prolific marine life and rich terrestrial areas including virgin forests are just among the resources that it can offer for eco-tourism destinations.

And then there are the virgin white sand beaches of Dicotcotan and Didadungan, probably Isabela’s best kept secrets. The coastline of both beaches are very much exposed to strong waves from the Pacific Ocean, perfect not only for swimming but also for surfing. Dicotcotan beach has a three-kilometer coastline with coral reefs, sea grass beads and sandy shoreline that is fringed with a coastal forest and a a village. According to Reynante de Veyra, a staff from the city hall, there has been frequent sightings of pointed nosed dolphins and hump back whales aside from the various species of fishes and shellfish, and marine turtles that can be seen from the surface.

Other interesting eco-tourism spots in Palanan are the Culasi Beach, Diminalo Lake, Kanataw Lake, Digoyo Lake, Kanasamuyan Cave, Disangkilan and Sad-sad falls. A lot of natural attractions to see which makes the trip to this remote town time well spent.

About the Contributor: Vic Albornoz Lactaoen is currently a travel writer for Cebu Pacific Airway’s new inflight magazine-Smile and contributor for Manila Bulletin’s Travel Section and The Business Mirror. He still travels extensively around the country and hopes to finish his first travel book on off beat destinations in the Philippines soon.

I am fron Kawit, Cavite…. trivia po…. iisa po ang patron saint ng Kawit at Palanan, Isabela because when Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo (whose also from Kawit and was a devotee of St. Mary Magdelene) hid in Palanan, he made the saint the patroness of the said Isabela town thus, the feast day of both Kawit and Palanan is celebrated every July 22. Kaya puwede ring sabihin na sister towns ang dalawang bayan.

ann ocampo

Im planning to go there by august this year, may plane ba going to palanan from cauayan? Any suggestions for any tourist spots? Accomodation? Mga magkanu ang mga kelangan iprepare n pera for the trip. Taga isabela den ako but i’ve never been in palanan.
Thanks in advance!

Greah Bautista

Hi Ann, Taga saang part ka ng isabela? I wanna go there also, but I have no companion at all, If ok lang sayo, pwede bang makisabay? Thank you. 🙂

im from isabela….some of the those people who traveled from this place are the reporters of abs cbn. they travel here for such documentation…. well, cauayan city is the place to stay first before traveling sa palanan. may mga hotels nearby the airport going to palanan. I think the expenses starts from 5k or more than if you wanna travel for this place… yung plane na gagamitin is private i think that occupies 1o max. its good to be there because of the beach and ofcourse the place where andres bonifacio was caught.basta madaming mapupunatahan dun and all. from manila to isabela you can take bus or by plane. sure you can enjoy it with your colleage.

ryan

hi, palanan is my hometown. u asked about the expenses and places. just prepare Php10,000.00 only 6,000 for the fare (Bus and Airplane) and 4,000 for the allowance its good for 1wik only.. as of now walang hotel sa palanan pero very accommodating mga tao dun sabihin mo lng tourist ka at san ka pede mag stay or kung gusto mu sumabay uwe ako early next year sa palanan..

im from isabela….some of the those people who traveled from this place are the reporters of abs cbn. they travel here for such documentation…. well, cauayan city is the place to stay first before traveling sa palanan. may mga hotels nearby the airport going to palanan. I think the expenses starts from 5k or more than if you wanna travel for this place… yung plane na gagamitin is private i think that occupies 1o max. its good to be there because of the beach and ofcourse the place where andres bonifacio was caught.basta madaming mapupunatahan dun and all. from manila to isabela you can take bus or by plane. sure you can enjoy it with your colleage.

ryan

hi, palanan is my hometown. u asked about the expenses and places. just prepare Php10,000.00 only 6,000 for the fare (Bus and Airplane) and 4,000 for the allowance its good for 1wik only.. as of now walang hotel sa palanan pero very accommodating mga tao dun sabihin mo lng tourist ka at san ka pede mag stay or kung gusto mu sumabay uwe ako early next year sa palanan..

Im from Roxas, Isabela but i am based here in Manila.
I am planning to go to Palanan by March 23, 2012 onwards by land and water. Manila-Baler-Dilasag-Palanan.

Who wants to join? 🙂
text me 0917 7347 899

jake

talagang maganda ang PALANAN sabi nga ni Noli de Castro eh Its the Last Paradise in the whole Phils.

philippe

I just cant help but regret how i wish i could see Palanan… I heard beautiful stories about it during my stay in Cauayan because most of our clients who rent vhs and btamax then were fron the coastal towns of Isabela. It is said that its scenic spots were inviting and unexploited. how I wish that the voltures of Isabela will do something to make not only people of Palawan to be proud but all the Isabelinos as well. Make Palanan the next tourist destination.

melchor baua

wow ang ganda ng palanan..

wilibethaggabao

hi talagang magnda ang palanan

ejay

maconacon is the best paradise on Earth..

joey esteban

even in divilacan and dinapigue it looks very interesting in pictures that i saw. proud to be isabelino…

joey esteban

i really want to bring my family to descover the beauty of palanan and were so excited

i hoping to see more pictures… I haven’t been there and I’m interested to see the place… It’s the assigned ecotourism site in our case study and it aroused my interest because of the descriptions..

rafael

i had just opened the website of isabela and scrolled the town of palanan where i spent a good seven (7) years of my teaching career. Yes, I have been in this God-given “Paradise in the north” with its beautiful beaches & pristine waters. I have good memories of the place, especially Culasi where my former school is located. I love the place, the warmth and hospitality of the beautiful people. After more than 30 years, I know it has still retained its natural beauty, in some ways! I hope I can still visit Palanan, one of these days! To the good people of my once adopted town, BELATED HAPPY FIESTA!!!

i am a franciscan seminarian from the Order of Friars Minor. I had my Friary exposure in Palanan for almost two months. i was able to visit all the barrio’s there to celebrate the mass with the people. not only in Palanan, but also in Maconacon and Divilacan. for me i can describe palanan as the mountain or sanctuary where we can meet God. The people there are very religious, friendly and welcoming.
Peace and all good to all Paranan… Praying for you…

Br. Irvin
Franciscan

Pete Torio

I also saw Wilfredo Pascual’s video on Palanan. It was so view-tiful! Thanks Bro!

exequiel sabarillo

I have not seen internet news about the celebration of Palanan´s 400th year foundation. Baler and Casiguran took the limelight last year.

According to Franciscan records, Fray Blas Palomino founded in 1609 not only Baler and Casiguran , but also Palanan.

Exequiel, Madrid

Ann

though i grew up in Isabela, i have never been to Palanan and Maconacon but i’ve always wanted to go there. i’ve been to Batanes and so far it’s the most beautiful place i’ve ever seen — i’ve no adjectives left to describe it but IMMACULATE. i’ve seen Palanan and Maconacon only in pictures and hopefully one fine summer i just might find myself frolicking in these secret havens. *fingers crossed*

i’m leaving this Thursday to attend my Tita’s golden wedding in Cordon, Isabela.. I was delighted when I first learned that there’s a beach in Isabela.. I visit Isabela in a yearly manner.. I hope I can drag my Dad and my cousins to Palanan this weekend.. I soo wanted to see Palanan and ofcourse the Dicotcotan beach.. 😉

Rey

Miss you Philippines, especially my hometown isabela, proud ISABELINOS, wishing to be there again by april to spend my vacation after one long year away from my family…………..

Pete Torio

Just surfed tne net and saw the sky pasada website. It was cool and simple…thanks for interesting testimonies about Palanan. I think I want to visit!

Lady Jhane

palanan was the best place i ever see…

John

Does anyone have web link to Sky Pasada or other way to contact them?
Thanks

I’ve been to Dicotcotan beach last year, we were welcomed by no other than their mayor.I swear the place is soooo beautiful! you can visibly see the sun set in the beach the sand is so fine and white, the sea is so clear and calm. if given a chance i will go and visit the place once more. its good that the place is made accessible by the 19 seater plane named WCC.

luningning

i am glad that there is now another airline that have flights to Palanan Isabela and that is the SKY PASADA. It is faster and safer than cyclone. They are using a 19 seater plane.

They charge reasonable plane fare and more people can now afford to go to Palanan.

Thanks to Sky Pasada, the Palanan folks can now bring home more donuts and Jollibbee products for pasalubong.

Hello! Im surprise what the guys that i meet been in general aviation in Manila. That the Sky Pasada is operating illegal in Cauayan-Palanan. That,s why they are not giving receipts. Their Aircraft is the aircraft model that crash in Isabela before that killed all the passengers and crew’s (Asian Spirit). The said aircraft also that they are using is already face-out this 2011 because of discrepancies thats why all the owners of that aircraft here in the Philippines are for sale like the SEAIR and other private company’s using that aircraft. We are just concern because Im from Palanan also. And knows the truth. They just convince us this days but they already get the market they will increase their fare also.

richard

Good news! There’s a new airline that connects cauayan and palanan isabela! The Sky Pasada.

Have tried it when we went to Palanan’s fiesta last July 22. Much safer, faster and affordable than Cyclone. They are using a 19-seater plane.

ganda

happy fiesta!

ache

do you know that Palanan is celebrating its 400 years this coming July 22, 2009? something Palaneños we used be proud of. Mabiyag ka Paranan!

Rod Santos

Palanan may be that rarest of the few places in the Philippines that may be termed pristine wilderness. THIS is the real richness of the country. How I wish to contribute something for its preservation.

its one of my great dream to go to palanan… i live in San Manuel isabela and im really proud for this best secret of my home town… “agbiag ti isabeleneo”

margareth

Hi, thanks for this site, I was inspired n d beauty of the island, it was 4 years ago when we had a missioncamp held at culaci palanan, isabela. we went there by land and water, bus and Lantsya…. it was 19hr ride. It was the greatest adventure dat ive been, soooo far…. I was inspired by its beauty and virginity…. i was hoping and praying to vist the place again…. by a plane… Good food, good place and sooo nice people…. God Bless Palana.

Palanan is so wonderful piece of paradise I’ve seen (on TV). I really want to visit the place which amazed me most upon viewing on correspondent episode. There the fresh water from falls, clean seashores and the witty “katutubo” as well.

the correspondents featured palanan last night.. hope you guys watched their episode

SALLY

I REALLY REALLY MISS THAT PLACE “PALANAN ISABELA” MY BELOVED HOMETOWN, I AM FROM DICADUAN PALANAN ISABELA,A VERY NICE PLACE IN PALANAN I WISH ONE OF THIS DAYS I WILL VISIT MY BELOVED HOMETOWN.MISS YOU ALL….MWAH! GODBLESS PALANAN.

ache

palanan is very very very beautiful place.. there’s no place like home-palanan ika nga. its nice to know that there are people promoting a remote place but very beautiful and historical town like palanan. try to visit palanan and you’ll see what I mean..

I am encouraging you to visit palanan, as if its gonna be the last paradise on earth for those who have not yet gone there. I have not yet gone home since 1995. Im sure malaki na pinagbago ngayon. Kumusta kamon atanan han.Mabuhay kam a atanan…

Margel

Janice

i havn’t been to Palanan, but while reading this article and comments, i was imagined that Palanan is a ‘Paradise’.

i was born in cabatuan, isabela but i felt i was a stranger to my own province. i didn’t even memorize all the towns of isabela. there are three places that are very common to me, Cabatuan, Cuayan and Santiago only, and the rest? i don’t know.

we had a trip going to Palanan this september, with my friend. he was born in there. i really am exited to our upcoming adventurous trip. it will be my first ride in a plane, yes! it’s my first time.

i love environment, i want to see those so called ‘remote places’ in palanan. i want to meet the people there, eventhough i didn’t know much about their dialect but i have a little bit of idea about paranan, like ‘uhu’ means yes and awan or ‘andak’ means no, if im not mistaken.

Margel Cauilan

I was born in Dimasari Palanan, Isabela. Truly Palanan is blessed with vast natural.I love Palanan very much.. Miss You Palanan..

querubin

my province is in ilagan isabela.but today im here in laguna.even me asking on how to go in palanan.i think palanan is lack of information to tourist.i hope that palanan will known of its natural beauty not just local but globally.

Annika

I am from Delfin Albano Isabela and now lives here in Manila. I’d love to visit Palanan and I am curious about the place. I’ve been surfing for more pictures of this hidden paradise but I am not succesful. I think I really should go to this place and post every picture I’d capture. =)

I believe that Palanan’s lack of an accessible road is a gift itself. We wouldnt want it to be overly crowded like Boracay, right? So, enjoy the hardships of getting there and when you reach the place, embrace the reward of its enchanting beauty. 😉

BTW,is it safe to go on October??

Best,
Annika

John

Hi everyone

A Kano here (well, British). I have been living in San Mateo in Isabela for 2+ years and would love to see Palanan. Every time I look at Google Earth the place beckons as a remote wilderness which must contain much beauty. Glad to see people have confirmed this.

Can anyone help with the practicalities. My relatives put me off going because “I will be kidnapped/there is NPA activity/the planes always crash.”

I don’t believe any of it, but can anyone supply details of the air service from Cauayan (cost, frequency) and if we get there would there be places to stay, etc.

palanan is such a nice place. people are very friendly and hospitable. I hope there would be better airlines which is safer and hi tech. the runway should be concreted, hey DOT please help. I hope they wouldn’t allow rich people to own most of the beach lots there so that it will not end up to abused to preserve its natural beauty.

I haven’t been in Palanan but my parents were originally from Cabatuan and whenever my family goes to Isabela the only memory that remains to me is an endless vision of rice fields and more rice fields. Maybe I can include Palanan on my next trip, I can bear the eight hour trip from Manila but I wouldn’t dare myself be victimized by NPA’s – can somebody educate me about the existence of this militant group? My grandfather was killed by them and we were robbed of armaments when I was a young child.
I hope tourism would flourish here and the latest buzz I’ve heard is that it is slowly turning to a little European town because a lot of Isabela women had married Germans and the like and they build their houses everywhere in the towns of this province.

Gil Aluning

Palanan, Isabela is really a beautiful place. The beauty of the place lies within the people of Palanan. They are really courteous, what’s amazing is, the people of Palanan seems to come from all parts of Isabela and the country, it’s a melting pot.

I have been to Palanan twice, enchanted by her beauty. My two trips to place was all done by foot. We crossed the Sierra Madre Mountain Range from San Mariano and the beauty of the place starts from the trek itself, the trek was totally amazing that we did it twice, following the so called “Aguinaldo Trail”. Although i have summited several known peaks in our country and have gone to the Coastal Towns of Isabela, the long trek to palanan is the best experience of all. Try it folks!

Marlon

Hi there, thanks for putting palanan to public, i leave in palanan, its been almost 8 years that i left my town to pursue my college education, thanks for those beutifull words, if you want i can give you some photo’s, im just completing some info’s on palanan and add more details in the wikepedia, can i include one of those you written,
thanks alot, my bday is july 22, 1982, our partonal town fiesta, and if you dont believe my brothers bday is march 23 which is palanan day

Thanks for featuring one of the towns of my province. Even when I was kid, I’ve been hearing stories from my whole household about the place.It makes me wonder now how I wish to see the place. Mind you, I live now outside Pinas but still keeps on coming back to visit. Im considering Palawan on my next vacation. The question is is there a road that link the place from the nearby towns of Isabela? I cant wait to see the place before the vultures will damage it.

eversince i read this article from clickthecity, i google palanan, isabela for some possible guided tour. i was able to find that dept of tourism region 2 has this tour package for palanan. they provided some contact numbers but i think the published numbers are not working.

Ann

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